Jakarta to set up antiterrorism group<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia plans to establish a consortium to coordinate financial
\nassistance from the international community aimed at enhancing
\nthe country's efforts to fight terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We are determined to set up a 'consortium' consisting of
\ncountries that are willing to support us in security issues
\nespecially in dealing with terrorists,\" Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"That way we could effectively apply the financial support to
\nfulfill our needs,\" he said in his year-end statement.<\/p>\n
The consortium will gather all pledged financial support from
\ncountries for Indonesia, which will coordinate and distribute the
\nfund.<\/p>\n
\"We have to translate the international community's
\nappreciation regarding the Bali bombing investigation into
\nconcrete support to improve our capability in dealing with
\nterrorism,\" Hassan underlined.<\/p>\n
\"The prompt investigation into the Bali bombing has given us a
\ngreat chance to shift the world's attention from terrorism to
\nother issues,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Indonesia came under the international spotlight after the
\nOct. 12 Bali bombing, which claimed the lives of more than 190
\npeople mostly foreign holidaymakers.<\/p>\n
The deadly blast had forced the world to focus on the
\nterrorist network in the Southeast Asia region, especially after
\nthe inclusion of Jamaah Islamiyah organization, operating in the
\nregion, on the United Nations terrorist list.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had been accused of lacking the capability and
\nseriousness to deal with the most feared threat in the world in
\nthe past years.<\/p>\n
Hassan admitted that the country had limitations in its laws
\nand lacked the institutional capability to deal with the
\nextraordinary crime.<\/p>\n
Police have named 15 people as suspects, including the main
\nplayers behind the bombing, earning Indonesia worldwide
\nappreciation.<\/p>\n
The prompt investigation is also supported by technical
\nassistance from Australia, the United States, Britain and Japan.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa further explained
\nthe antiterrorist consortium would be a non-permanent body.<\/p>\n
\"That way we can determine, which part of our security
\napparatus needs more support and which part does not, so the
\nsupport will be in accordance with our needs and interests,\"
\nMarty told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He further said the consortium would manage the pledged
\nfinancial support from the international community for concrete
\nobjectives.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-to-set-up-antiterrorism-group-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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